Transforming European Governance: Proposals Towards Transparency, Sustainability and Efficiency for the New European Commission (2024–2029)

Abstract

The appointment of the new European Commission for the period 2024–2029 is a critical opportunity to establish a governance model that can address the Union's evolving challenges, ranging from fiscal sustainability and digital transformation to climate imperatives and democratic legitimacy. These notes reflect on the institutional levers available to enhance transparency, accountability, sustainability and citizen engagement, building on recent reforms, EU-wide initiatives and the experiences of member states. Rather than proposing new legal instruments or empirical models, the paper sets out a strategic roadmap for embedding modern governance principles within the operational fabric of EU administrations. It explores how adaptive fiscal frameworks, standardised public sector accounting, digital innovation, anti-corruption tools and participatory mechanisms can be scaled up and institutionalised within existing structures. The analysis contends that meaningful reform requires coherence between financial management, service delivery, environmental performance, and democratic participation. Aligning these areas within a flexible, inclusive and resilient governance architecture would enable the EU to strengthen public trust and ensure policy effectiveness in an increasingly complex global environment.